RIDGEWOOD, N.J. (AP) - George Gately, the creator of the ``Heathcliff'' newspaper comic about the antics of a rotund cat, has died. He was 72.
Gately died Sunday of a heart attack at Valley Hospital in Ridgewood, his brother John Gallagher said. Gately's real name was George Gately Gallagher.
Gately created his ``Heathcliff'' cartoon in 1973, predating ``Garfield'' by five years. It featured the stylish cat, who often wore a black leather jacket and sunglasses. The comic was later turned into an animated TV show.
``He was pretty jolly, very outgoing,'' Gallagher said Tuesday.
He had hoped to become a musician, his brother said, but ``Heathcliff'' became so popular that he was too busy drawing to pursue music full-time.
``He was asked to go to cat shows and the people would have him sign an autograph for their cat,'' he said.
Picked by Meat-is-good.